I'm struggling with this algae, which I'm having trouble even finding out what it is, let alone getting rid of it.
Brown fuzzy coating - tends to lower areas on some ?Lindernia, but I note similar on older leaves of some Hygrophila, and less so on Java Fern.
Tank set up for 6 months.
130L, temp 26-27 deg, GH 5.6
CO2 - pressurized, pH controller, pH drops from 7.72 in am to 6.60 through entire photoperiod, KH 3
Lights - LED, 2 strips of 12x3W (max power 1.5W each) - total period 10h, 2h sunrise/sunset, 6h 70% (plus 2hr @ 100%)
ferts - KNO3 to keep NO3 minimum 10ppm, KH2PO4 keep PO4 2-2.5ppm
water changes - 50% per week, add KHCO3 to boost KH to 3, add Seachem Equil to raise GH by 1.
micros - daily according to EI, use 'Amgrow chelated micronutrients' and approx 0.5mL Seachem Fe gluconate daily
(until this week I was doing 2x50% per week)
the pics show what I mean - the worst is on the lower zones of what I think is Lindernia (I think sold as pennywort). Some on older Hygrophila polysperma leaves, less so on Hygrophila leaves only 1-2weeks old.
I don't think this is diatoms - I had a major bloom of them at week 3-4 or so, which resolved, and this stuff doesn't come off like diatoms do.
I noted a thread elsewhere, where this stuff was thought to be a cyanobacteria. I am stumped.
Plants are growing rapidly, pearling nicely.
I'm starting to realise maybe I haven't been trimming properly, and the base of the pennywort is pretty old - probably 6 months.... I am planning to top it off, and probably bleach it....
Any thoughts??
Brown fuzzy coating - tends to lower areas on some ?Lindernia, but I note similar on older leaves of some Hygrophila, and less so on Java Fern.
Tank set up for 6 months.
130L, temp 26-27 deg, GH 5.6
CO2 - pressurized, pH controller, pH drops from 7.72 in am to 6.60 through entire photoperiod, KH 3
Lights - LED, 2 strips of 12x3W (max power 1.5W each) - total period 10h, 2h sunrise/sunset, 6h 70% (plus 2hr @ 100%)
ferts - KNO3 to keep NO3 minimum 10ppm, KH2PO4 keep PO4 2-2.5ppm
water changes - 50% per week, add KHCO3 to boost KH to 3, add Seachem Equil to raise GH by 1.
micros - daily according to EI, use 'Amgrow chelated micronutrients' and approx 0.5mL Seachem Fe gluconate daily
(until this week I was doing 2x50% per week)
the pics show what I mean - the worst is on the lower zones of what I think is Lindernia (I think sold as pennywort). Some on older Hygrophila polysperma leaves, less so on Hygrophila leaves only 1-2weeks old.
I don't think this is diatoms - I had a major bloom of them at week 3-4 or so, which resolved, and this stuff doesn't come off like diatoms do.
I noted a thread elsewhere, where this stuff was thought to be a cyanobacteria. I am stumped.
Plants are growing rapidly, pearling nicely.
I'm starting to realise maybe I haven't been trimming properly, and the base of the pennywort is pretty old - probably 6 months.... I am planning to top it off, and probably bleach it....
Any thoughts??
Last edited by a moderator: